Naval Group floats Normandie frigate

Naval Group has floated the French Navy’s future FREMM multi-mission frigate, Normandie, at its Lorient site, the company announced on 1 February.

The launch of the frigate comes 12 months after the start of hull assembly in the building dock.

Normandie is the sixth in the series ordered by OCCAR on behalf of the French Navy.

The vessel will leave dry dock in autumn 2018 to undergo its first sea trials prior to delivery to the navy, expected in summer 2019. The two final frigates, Alsace and Lorraine, will be delivered to the French Navy before the end of 2022.

The 142m ship is equipped with Herakles multifunction radar, the Aster and Exocet MM 40 missiles or the MU 90 torpedoes. Displacing around 6,000 tonnes, the vessel has a maximum speed of 27 knots and will be capable of carrying a helicopter detachment. The ship can accommodate a total of 145 persons.